Psychology for a Sustainable Future (PSF), a project of the Center for Earth Leadership, is an organization of psychologists and mental health professionals guided by a steering committee.  PSF's initiatives are implemented through a committee structure.

Background.  In 2006, a group of mental health professionals convened to explore the questions below.  Out of early conversations, a planning group emerged to organize the Psychology-Ecology-Sustainability conference, and eventually the PSF Network and its initiatives.

Mission & Objectives.  PSF is guided by the following goals:

• To help raise awareness of environmental perspectives and sustainability issues within psychology-related fields
• To use psychological knowledge and understandings to support the movement for a sustainable future and raise ecological consciousness. 

Steering Committee.  PSF is guided by a steering committee of 7 psychologists and mental health professionals with a variety of backgrounds.

Sustainability.  PSF seeks to explore sustainability as it relates to psychology and mental health.  See the sustainability summery for further information.

Connectedness. In modern society, citizens are disconnected/alienated from each other and from the natural world.

• What are the psychological and ecological implications of disconnectedness?

• What are the most significant contributors to this disconnection? Technology? Media? Consumption? Addiction? Other?

• Is connection to nature an innate human predisposition, and if so, what are the effects of not nurturing that predisposition?

Human Dissociation & Denial.  The ecological predicament created by human activity on the natural world can seem overwhelming and lead to a form of denial or dissociation.

• Once people learn “the denial skill,” how can they be reached effectively?

• How might the ecology/conservation movement be making this trend worse?

Technology.  Citizens, particularly children and young adults, are spending more and more time interfacing with technology.  What are the implications with respect to alienation from the natural world and the human community?  What are the psychological and ecological implications?

Human Personal Growth. Both psychology and spirituality are part of human growth and health.

• What is the relationship between psychology and spirituality?

• What are the primary distracters that can derail human growth and health?

Reaching People. Even within the realms of ecology and conservation, individual worldviews and value systems are incredibly diverse, posing a serious challenge to interventions and cooperative efforts.  Furthermore, each worldview has its own inherent rationality and morality, so common ground can be very difficult to establish.

• How can a unique individual be reached effectively in the midst of so much clutter, noise, and defensiveness?

• How can we promote awareness and change while still respecting people’s values and beliefs?